And an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sworn unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. And it came to pass, when the angel of the Lord spoke these words unto all the children of Israel that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the Lord. Judges 2:1-5.
There is a legitimate and illegitimate places, situations and circumstances of weeping before God. Certain crying are seen as an act ungratefulness, unbelief, self pitying and dissastisfaction before God – such is punishable and condemnable: And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: but now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. Numbers 11:1-6. Note: it was a game for the crooked Jacob to weep just because Rachel introduced herself, made his first meeting with her of mixed feelings of sadness, embarrassment and suspense with no reason whatsoever to fake his tears before his mother’s niece – Rachael. Jacob’s ill-suited sob after robbing Essau for the birthright was a mental, moral and spiritual deception, manipulation and hypocrisy (crocodile tears) of weaponizing weeping to make others believes us for a favor, have their pity or to get their attention – and Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebecca’s son: and she ran and told her father. Genesis. 9:11: (b) all the discontent Israelis that wept for fish to protest against God’s daily provision in the wilderness were made to see the power of God which is able to do all things, but were not allowed to live to enjoy the fish rained down from heaven; for while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague. And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted. Num.11:32-34: (c) though it wasn’t God interest for brethren to bite and devour one another, but the Israelis insistently wept thrice to get the permission for vegeance to fight against their brethren from the tribe of Benjamin, only to regret their action for the outcome of the war which caused the depopulation of women from the tribe of Benjamin. Judges. 20: 23. Judges. 21.
We are going to look into the legitimate – rewarding weeping places for the present day’s believers in Christ Jesus. Here on earth, there is going to be a very long duration of weeping period of time caused by difffrent situations such as (a) sorrow and weeping for the death of a loved one or of a family’s friend, or a neighbour, of which the scripture enjoins us to weep with them that weep: Romans 12:15: (b) woe unto you that laugh now (as fools make a mock at sin. Proverbs.14:9a) ! for ye shall mourn and weep. Luke 6:25. For now, the believer may live a sorrowful life of fears within and fight without, being defamed, evil spoken off by his friends, being falsely accused, rejected, misunderstood, heart broken and in pain because of a weak sister and fallen brother in the faith (streams of tears run down my eyes, because they don’t observe your law. Psalms 119:136), but as the joy of the hypocrite, so the sorrow of a true Christian – it is for a while. Job 20:5. Christ weeps over Jerusalem for the hardness of the hearts of his people (Luke 19:41), he also the present day spiritually broken believer weep for his city, village and province, grieved and angry like Lot for the Sodomites of this last days, labouring with tears in prayer for the lost souls and city in captivity to be taken for the Lord – let him keep sowing in tears for his Lord and Christ, they that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:5-6: (c) as the Mary Magdalene found herself at the feet of the Lord weeping in contrition and repentance for her sins, so the present day spiritually broken believer who know the terror of the Lord and horrow of sin is called to weep and lament for his sin, to be ashamed of his sins in contrition, lest he be seen as one who is crucifying the Son of God afresh the second time, and bringing him to an open shame – draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:8-10.
Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice. Where are the men and women of God of this time, like David was after the heart of God, wept over Saul his enemy, and Jonathan his friend, men and women who are weeping over the backsliden and fallen believers, instead of going to the Youtube to make mockery, or on telephone conversations and in the streets corners to pridely announce the spiritual calamity thas has befallen any of their brethren in the faith? 2 Samuel 1:19-24.
Where are the Samuel’s of this time who are weeping all night for his brother Saul until God stop him from crying for the unrepentant heart? 1 Samauel 16:1. Today, most of the people in Zion have fallen into the generation whose eyeslids are lifted up, arrogant and haughty, rebellious and disobedient, but there are only few or no more Jeremaiah who will weep in secret unto God in prayer to grant an humble and obedient heart to his people against the wrath to come – hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the Lord hath spoken. Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock is carried away captive. Jeremiah 13:15-17.
Considering how some people live both in the church and outside, the Christianity of many people today is a joke if you compared it to the call of the gospel to bear the cross each day and to follow after Christ – to be crucified to the world, and the world is crucifed to you – to mortify the flesh with the affections and lusts, – and we see Jesus, who also, in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. Hebrews 5:7-9.
First, the place of weeping is our place of prayer, the innermost chamber of the heart where Hannah found herself in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. 1 Samuel 1:10. Hannah wept and prayed in the temple, only her lips moved, but the high priest Eli thinks she was one of those daughters of Belial, weeping under the infleunce of wine – And Hannah answered and said, no, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. 1 Samuel 1:15-17.
Second, the place of weeping is your secret place of prayer where you have chosen to erect personal altar to commune daily with God in prayer – I am weary with my groaning. Every night I flood my bed. I drench my couch with my tears. Psalms 6:6. Note: though reverence to God should be visibly seen, but should be from the heart, not only from the mouth or any action of false humility before him. The position or state of your heart is more important before God than any false posture or position of prayer displayed or presented before him or before others while praying. We can as well knee before our Maker in prayer, seat or stand up while we lift up holy hands in prayer, walk around where the possibility is, or lie flat on the ground or on our bed while praying – in the fervency of spirit, – in the singleness and uprightness of the heart before the Lord – where there is Spirit of God, there is liberty, just be led by the spirit of God, listen to his voice.
The privacy of your bedchamber as well as in the assembly of the saints is the place to cry and beg for help to ovecome your infirmities, to have power over your secret or open sins, to subdue the flesh and to overcome personal weaknesses of beseeting sins. Note: it is better to cry for your weakness to obtain help than to cry for forgiveness after you’ve been overcome by it. Those who will not cry in the secret place of prayer before God to obtain grace and help against the days of temptation, will be exposed by their sin, – their sins shall found them out, they will cry for the defeat, reproach and shame of sin in the open for their iniquity, just as David was exposed for his sin, wept and fasted openly for his first child with Barshaba but was killed by God to punish him. Hebrews 4:16.
Weeping is the place of godly sorrow. God is calling his backsliding children to weeping and mourning for their sins – blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, spare thy people, O Lord, and give not your heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, where is their God? Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people. Joel 2:15-18. Note: those who are mourning presently in regret – contrition over their sins shall be helped, delivered, purified and empowered to oevrcome the corruption that is in the world and in their flesh through lusts: and they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. Daniel.11:33-35.
Weeping is the heart emotional expression of remorse, showing penitence that you have learnt from your past and present mistakes, and they won’t be repeated again – because your heart was tender, and you did humble thyself before God, when you heard his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbles yourself before me, and did rend your clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard you also, says the Lord. Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shall be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again. 2 Chronicles. 34:27: (b) weeping is also the expression of trust that God is your sole dependence – my tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, where is thy God? I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: my eyes fail while I wait for my God. Psalms.42:3. Psalms. 69:3.
Whatever is the nature and origin of your present tears (contrition for personal sin – the persecution and afflictions we endure in Christ – betrayal and dissapointed by the beloved brethren- oppression of the mighty- the pain and lamentations of faith to do exploits in the Lord – the loss of a loved one – weeping continually as Hannah wept yearly for the promise of God on child bearing to be fulfilled in her life until Samuel was given – serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears. Acts 20:19) all our tears are stored up in a bottle for the testimony of faith – weeping daily to hasten Christ imminent return for his saints on earth – weeping daily in prayer that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven – weeping unto God to show forth his power on earth: though some of the weeping shall be rewarded here, but others may not until we get to the place where there shall be neither sorrow, nor crying, and God shall wipe all tears from the eyes of his people, and all the present troubles shall be done away. Note: it is better to weep now for a while with the assurance of eternal comfort than to weep after eternally after death with gnashing of teeth – prepare to meet your God. Revelation 21:4.
Weeping is a symbol and gesture of humility of heart before God. As soon as King Hezekiah received the news from God that he must prepare his house to die, he prayed and wept bitterly, prevailed in prayer to earn additional fifteen years from God that preserve man and beasts on earth. Meanwhile, the outcome of his prolongation years on earth only exposed his pride and folly, of which, perhaps, God was trying to save him from by taking him to be with him before it happens, which caused his sons, by his pride and folly punished by God who resist the proud, to go into exile, and to serve as eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon, which couldn’t have been if he had submitted to the perfect will of God to die. Isaiah 38:1-5. Isaiah 39:1-7. Note: the prayer of the just is the delight of God, but more delighted is God when we understand and apply the principle of submission to his revealed will instead of trying and seeking to change it through prayers, his foolishness is wiser than man’s wisdom – what would be shall be, either now or after, man must go to his long home. Why crying to prolong or wait for another day on earth which may cause you and others troubles? Proverbs 15:8.
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalms 30:5. Weeping is spiritual. God calls us to react or be responsive emotionally to right the plights of the wronged – to do justly, without respect of person, and to put on the bowels of compassion – sympathy, for the poor.
Proverbs 17 verses 5 b, he that is glad at calamity shall not go unpunished. While others may be glad at the calamity that befells their neighbours, friends and enemies, Job wept in his secret prayer for their deliverance. While he was seaching out the reason for his plight, seeking to justify himself from any wrong doing, bodly declared, did I not weep for him that was in trouble? Was not my soul grieved for the poor? Job 30:25.
Weeping is not a bad emotion, though it can become terribly bad to weep throughout all eternity. Emotions are man’s sentiment as well as the nature of God – the divine nature – Jesus wept.
Except the heart is sealed with hot iron, there is a sadness or sorrow the Spirit of God is able to work out in us, if he is grieved by us, which can cause us to shed tears in the same manner Peter wept bitterly in contrition, after he realized the error of his denial and betrayal of his Lord and Christ if we accept the conviction of our sins in godly sorrow. Luke 22:62.
Where are the people praying and crying that truth should not perish in our churches? It is common to see people weeping while I’m preaching, while I’m happy for them, but my soul also weep in secret for those saying that my preaching is hard. God’s word can become the rejoicing of the heart when we obey and do his will, but through the indwelling Spirit of God, we can also be broken by it to break out into tears when we realized how far we’ve gone away and astrayed in rebellion from the word of God as he calls us back though sound preaching of his word. Nehemiah 8:8-9.
Genuine, sincere and true weeping believers, who are presently weeping for the sins of the world in prayers, – weping for revival on earth among the nation through prayers – weeping for the (not participating) worldliness defiling the church today (brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. Philippians 3:17-19), shall be spared and saved on the day of the Lord’s wrath – And the Lord said unto him, go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. Ezekiel 9:4. Note: the depth of foundation of any structure determines its worth, beauty, solidity and enduring or lastingness, such is the fruit of our labour in the Lord birthed by the groanings and laboring of prayer in the spirit before evangelism, apart from any other human efforts of worldly wisdom to build and win souls for the Lord: a voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that renders recompense to his enemies. Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? Says the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? Says thy God. Isaiah 66:6-9.
God commands Jacob to go back to Bethel where he first reveals himself to him. Jacob’s going back to Bethel was his point of make or break with God. He must be spiritually broken, orherwise, nothing will change in his life till he die. He must meeet with Essau he has been avoiding all this while to settle the score of the stolen first born blessing. But through weeping in prayer, he fought to obtain the true riches of God’s grace that transform his life and personality inside-out. This is the blessing he wrestled to receive at his midnight spiritual combat before the breaking of the day, when his name was changed to Israel – where it was said that he prevailed with God and man (Gen. 32:24-28): yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke with us; even the Lord God of hosts; the Lord is his memorial. Hosea.12:4-5.
You don’t see weeping in many churches today – it has become the place of entertainment, jokes and mad laughter and merry making of food and drinks. While God is calling for weeping and humbling ourselves before him continually, people are calling for meats and drinks and comedy in the house of God – And in that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: and behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die. And it was revealed in mine ears by the Lord of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord God of hosts. Isaiah 22:12-14.
Weep now and labour to bring forth that the yoke of sin and burden of iniquities should be removed from your neck and shoulder! Weep and labour now in prayer before the Lord to remove the stumbling blocks of iniquities which may hinder you not to get to heaven which are in your life, and to give you power for victory over anything or anyone who may stand or is standing as stumbling block of sin against you to heaven.